NHL Network

Is it just me or does this channel suck really bad? I just upgraded my cable the other day so I have the NFL and MLB network along with the NHL network that I already had and it seems like it is just so bad compared to the others. The MLB network is absolutely amazing. Great shows, great people, great coverage, everything, and I have only been watching it for like a week. I haven't really watched much of the NFL Network but what I have seen and heard about is all good things. The NHL Network seems like it only shows old games and has very little original programming. It has the NHL on the Fly, but that is kind of lame most of the time. MLB has great original stuff and nightly shows like MLB Tonight, which is basically Baseball Tonight. I mean at least you would think there would be some kind of NHL Tonight programming. It had great coverage of the trade deadline, but that was all TSN. I don't know, am I missing something here?

I don't understand how the NHL Network can broadcast games in HD, even show a commercial promoting NHL On the Fly in HD, yet the actual show NHL on the Fly along with game highlights are never in HD. Does anyone know why this is?

Agreed with the OP that it pales in comparison to MLBNet, but MLB is really outstanding IMO. NHLNet is pretty comparable to NBATV in most ways...what I would like to see them do is have a bit more variety. The old games are cool, especially in the summer when there's no live hockey, but I'd like to see them show more different games rather than the same ones repeated.

Also I thought their Tradecentre deal was a bit lame, because it was (I believe) TSN's production and it was very Leafs-centric. I mean, it was better than nothing but they really went overboard with the Leafs and Sens.

The BC/BU "Battle of Comm Ave" piece they just had was pretty cool, if they show it again catch it, good stuff.

"When you learn how to play hockey, you learn more than just a sport."

Yeah, the commercial re-runs are their biggest problem. It's soooo over the top. I agree that they could use some more original programming, but what's there to complain about with NHL on the Fly? It's a very in-depth highlight show. Some of the guys on there can be annoying, but I like Kevin Weekes a lot and a couple other guys aren't bad. Besides, the most important thing is the highlights themselves and for each game they show so many. I absolutely love that. I mean, you get about 10x the highlights of each game compared to what ESPN would give you. You actually get a feel for how the game went rather than just being shown 1 or 2 goals in a 5-3 game. Plus, I really like that they give them to you with the original broadcast audio rather than the dude on the highlight show giving a narrative.

Even if they did get more original programming, I personally wouldn't really have the time to watch much of it. The highlights are what I care about most, so I'm happy enough. They should get more commercials though, for sure. At this point, Rick Dipietro's shrillass scream makes me want to break things. I think I'll punch him in the face if I ever meet him.

I love watching the NHL Network. I dont particularly like NHL Live or NHL PowerPlay, but they do broadcast games a few times a week. But the part I really like are the stories they run and the Vintage games and Top 10's they do. I havent seen too much of them lately, but in the summer they run nonstop. Frozen in Time is another good series that gets aired. My favorite one I think, and I dont remember the name of it, was when they took an in depth look at scouting for the Blues during the 2007 NHL draft. They went with all the scouts, including Al MacInnis to the combine and interviewed a number of prospects. Really intriguing stuff.

It could use some more original programming and definitely needs to stop playing the same commercials over and over. But I watch it all the time. The only place to watch the world juniors, too. Plus they are starting to play CHL games so it's only going to get better.